Chronicles of coaching American football in Italy (2008, 2009 & 2018), in Sweden (2010, 2016 & 2017), in Switzerland (2012), winning a Division III National Championship in France (2012-13), in Spain (2015 & 2016) and in Mexico (2017) as well as walking the Camino de Santiago in August-September of 2010.

About Me

I have been married to Laurie for over 46 years. Our oldest son, Andy, lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife Jenn and their son Kevin. Our youngest son Mike lives in Oxnard, California with his wife Vanessa and their kids Jacob and Mary. Although I retired from teaching in June of 2007, the 2015 football season marked my 45th year of coaching football at five high schools in Southern California's Ventura County - Thousand Oaks, Westlake, Rio Mesa, Buena and Newbury Park. In 2008, I opted to try something totally different in my coaching career and started coaching in Europe. My EuroBall stops have been in Catania, Sicily in 2008 & '09, Hässleholm, Sweden in 2010, Thun, Switzerland in 2012, Lyon, France in 2012-13 with the 12-0 National Champion Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons, Murcia, Spain in 2015, Rivas, Spain in 2016, Upplands-Väsby, Sweden in the Spring of 2016 & '17, in Mexico to coach the Europe Warriors in Aug. & Dec. 2017 and now in 2018 in Varese, Italy. Join me as I explore and chronicle my newest adventures coaching American football in Europe. My European touring also included a 500 mile Pilgrimage Walk on the Camino de Santiago in Spain in 2010.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Division III College Footbal Saturday at Cal Lutheran

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, Michael and I travelled over the Conejo Grade to Thousand Oaks to witness the final regular season game for the 17th ranked California Lutheran University Kingsmen (7-1, 5-0 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) as they hosted the Occidental Tigers (4-4, 3-2 SCIAC) in the final game to ever be played at venerable Mount Clef Stadium.

In 2011, the Kingsmen will move into their new home, the $8.9-million William Rolland Stadium.

As you would expect, the stands were packed and many former CLU players and coaches were present to say goodbye to CLU's intimate football home since 1963.

National Anthem

Mike studying the immaculate turf

The weather was perfect and, as always, CLU games are free and fan friendly thus the sideline vistas.

Oxy QB and Center working on the basics

Kicking-off to start Mt. Clef's Last Hurrah

Sun, Packed Stands and the LOS

It doesn't get any better than this!

Power Run by CLU's Deme'Trek Chambers

Hands Up!!!

An Occidental Defensive Lineman trying to get in the CLU QB's passing lane.

Chambers again from ground level

He could go all the way!

Powerfully built Derek Martinez

on the Sweep

Oxy DBs came to play!

How did #16 not block this Oxy punt?

Ryan Nastor returning a CLU punt . . .

. . . for really good and exciting yardage

CLU Field Goal attempt just before halftime

CLU held a narrow 10-0 lead after two periods over the fired up Tigers.

The Division III football experience at its best

While I sat in a cloth folding chair just outside the end line, this Kingsmen fan brought his own leather recliner to our end zone seating area. Try that at an Auburn-Alabama game!

Kingsmen swarming on defense

Chambers' second TD run

Deme'Trek Chambers would have a splendid day rushing for 168 yards on 24 carries. CLU would go on to gain 302 of its 411 yards of Total Offense on the ground.

Pressuring the Oxy QB

The CLU defense played great as well limiting the Tigers to 165 yards of Total Offense and forcing a colossal 12 Oxy punts!

One on One

CLU's Final TD in Mount Clef Stadium

A 15 yard TD strike from QB Jake Laudenslayer to WR Matt O'Brien.

Now THAT'S a PAT stance!

The Kingsmen went on to win 24-0, their first shutout since 2005. They finish the regular season at 8-1, 6-0 SCIAC. This is CLU's second consecutive SCIAC championship season.

CLU will find out on Sunday at about noon who their first round NCAA Division III football playoff opponent will be and where they will play that game.

It sounded like a great match-up and the final score bore that out as the Lutes won 24-21 in the closing seconds of the game. Now Pacific Lutheran must wait to see if their 8-1, 5-1 NWC record, good for second place in the NWC behind #12 ranked Linfield (8-1, 6-0 NWC), is enough to earn them an at-large berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs.